About us

SharingPoint is a non-profit organisation which supports adults who are seriously committed to recovery, primarily from the addictions of alcoholism, gambling and drug abuse. We do this by offering structured practical help on their way towards physical, mental, emotional, and spiritual well-being.

SharingPoint was founded in 2002 in response to the overwhelming lack of facilities and support for those wishing to recover from addiction. It is a registered charity, governed by a voluntary Board of Directors with a broad range of professional, commercial and industrial experience, and led by a full-time CEO with extensive addiction recovery experience.

SharingPoint’s core services are delivered largely through part-time voluntary work, and funded by voluntary contributions and nominal client contributions towards minimal essential expenditure. There is no ongoing public funding.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Our Approach

Our belief in SharingPoint is that addiction is primarily an emotional dysfunction, the result of an inner devastation caused by negative and damaging experiences in earlier life. Typically, those impacted by such experiences avoid the pain of confronting the cause/s, and instead they become addicted to inappropriate coping and survival strategies, including abuse of alcohol, drugs or gambling. These in turn often lead to a lifestyle and behaviours which are destructive to themselves, and often to others and to society. For many of our clients, without SharingPoint the only outcome, sooner or later, would have been prison, mental institution or death.

In our experience the only effective approach to ensure real recovery from addictive behaviour is to tackle the root cause/s directly.

We define recovery as a client’s complete freedom from addiction to any mood altering substance or activity on a stable, permanent basis, the cessation of former unhealthy behaviours, the ability to lead happy and fulfilled lives, and better able to make a positive contribution to society.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Our Facilitators

Our approach to date and our preferred approach for the future is to train suitable former clients to become facilitators of our recovery groups. This practice ensures that all facilitators share our values, and fully understand how we work with our clients.
Although they offer their services on a voluntary basis, each facilitator is required to:

• Attend monthly supervision sessions with an accredited IAAAC Supervisor
• Attend quarterly training seminars as organised by SharingPoint
• Complete a recognised qualification in addiction studies within three years of starting work as a junior facilitator
• Attend fortnightly personal development sessions as agreed with SharingPoint
• Abide by SharingPoint's code of conduct and code of ethics

All facilitators are fully covered by Professional Indemnity and Public Liability insurance.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

TESTIMONIALS

We tend to avoid measuring our results in terms of statistics alone, as these cannot fully capture the powerful impact that recovery has on our clients and those living or working with them. Therefore we evaluate success more on the observable changes in the attitudes and behaviour of our clients. In addition, their own personal testimonies at our Recognition Ceremonies paint a very clear—and often very moving—picture of how life has improved for them. These Ceremonies take place each year to publicly acknowledge the efforts and success of individual clients as they reach key milestones in their recovery.

Here are some testimonials written by clients and those involved with SharingPoint in other capacities.

Client currently in SharingPoint Primary Recovery Group

This client, when he came to SharingPoint, had the following profile:

• A history of drug and alcohol abuse starting when he was 13
• Drug use included heroin, crack cocaine, ecstacy, LSD, hash etc.
• On methadone for up to 10 years during this period
• In and out of prison and institutions of the state in Ireland and England throughout the period of his drug abuse

At the time of he wrote this testimonial, he was 3.5 years clean of both drink and drugs and had been attending SharingPoint regularly for ? years.

"The last 3 years have been the best years of my life, and with the support of SharingPoint I have found freedom and enjoyment in life such as I have never experienced before. I am totally committed to continuing to build on this in the future.
I would recommend SharingPoint to anyone who has tried everything without it working and anybody who is trying to recover before they try anything else."

He commented on working with affected people as well as addicts:

"Prior to group I didn't think that anyone could be affected by the disease as much as people with the disease; however I now believe that we have more in common than in difference. Its not about the drugs here, they are a million miles away, its about believing in myself."

 

Former Client of SharingPoint Primary Recovery Group

This client, when he came to SharingPoint, had the following profile:

• At the chronic stages of alcohol and drug abuse
• Had abused most drugs including heroin and cocaine together with methadone for almost 20 years
• On the brink of being imprisoned for a serious crime
• Had spent all of his adult life in and out of the court systems for various crimes

Today, his profile is very different:

• 7 years without using drink or drugs
• Never involved in any criminal activity
• Holds a senior role with a construction company
• Attended college and achieved a diploma in Addiction Studies
• Is a facilitator in Sharing Point

"My life just got better when I joined the SharingPoint recovery group.
I had been through all the public services i.e. probation services, houses for boys, prisons, psychiatrists, therapists, counsellors, treatment centres and various projects but nothing worked until I arrived in SharingPoint.

When I joined the group first the biggest thing that struck me was how honest and caring people were.

During my life I was very frightened, full of shame and wore many faces. I didn't know how to be honest and I always thought of myself as a bad person who one day would take my own life because this one was too painful for me.

For the first time in my life I can be myself, and I like myself. I can be honest with myself and others. I can now show affection for my children, something I could never do. The most important thing of all is that I can be myself without any faces or costumes."

Partners: one currently, one formerly in SharingPoint Primary Recovery Group

C

When she came to SharingPoint, C had the following profile:

• Partner was an addict
• Other family members were addicts
• Siblings had died as a result of involvement with drugs

"I came to know about Sharing Point through attending a recognition ceremony with my partner as he was in SharingPoint at the time. I hadn't got a preconception of it; I just thought because my partner was a recovering addict he had to go like in Narcotics Anonymous. I was blown away by the ceremony on a couple of levels, one being how people had completely turned their lives around, and secondly how much I found myself relating to the people speaking. In the past I very much would have assumed the role of the minder with addicts in my life, which meant I always put myself last. Over time this had a devastating effect on my self-worth and self-confidence. When I did eventually start in the SharingPoint recovery group I was at a point where I couldn't take any more, I was a shell of a person. It's hard for me to put in words what I've got out of group because it has just transformed my whole life. From being someone who wished I were dead on a daily basis, I now wake up looking forward to my life. In a sense it feels like being reborn because I had never experienced the feelings I now feel, like joy, love, happiness as opposed to fear, anger, hurt and sadness".

R

When he came to SharingPoint, R had the following profile:

• One year off drugs, after 11 years using drugs and drink
• A brother had committed suicide
• Suicidal himself

"Before I went into Sharing Point I was a year off drugs, but I was emotionally dead and I was ready to commit suicide. I had been eleven years on drink and drugs but I didn't want to use again, so it felt like suicide was my only option. I had lost a brother through drug use and I blamed myself for his death. I couldn't connect with anyone: not my partner, nor my daughter who was only two years old at the time, so I felt if that was all there was after giving up drugs, I would rather be dead. Sharing Point quite simply gave me my life back, and showed me how to connect with myself first and then with my family. I now have a belief that no matter what happens in my life, if I keep looking after myself everything else will look after itself. I have been three years out of group and continue to work on myself, as I am convinced it is a lifelong journey".

C and R's Relationship

"We now have a relationship that we never thought was possible. We have both worked and continue to work on our own issues separately, yet we have never felt the connection that we have with each other today. We're there for each other no matter what but we also know when we might need to give each other space. We are not trying to fill a need from the other person because we are taking care of ourselves individually".

Third Party

District Justice Groarke, in Dundalk District Court, gave a glowing reference when one of our clients appeared before him for review and possible sentencing. This client had been a habitual offender, and on the brink of being imprisoned for a serious crime, before coming to SharingPoint. It was clear to the judge that our client was truly reformed, and he decided not to impose a sentence. He declared that it was a "truly amazing metamorphosis such as he had never witnessed before."

Four years later Justice Groarke granted permission for us to use this testimonial, and was naturally delighted to hear that the former client had remained free from substance abuse and crime since his final appearance before him.

Contributor who is now a Board Member

"I initially got involved in SharingPoint because the CEO,who was a former work colleague, requested assistance in formalising some of the procedures/processes in SharingPoint. At that time, I had no knowledge of, or real interest in the illness of addiction. Through being invited to the annual SharingPoint Recognition ceremonies, where clients describe their road to recovery and how SharingPoint helped them, I came to an awareness of the devastating effect of addiction and of how little support was available to those who wanted to recover.

SharingPoint's goal of offering our clients an opportunity to turn their lives around and now live life with pride, self esteem, hope, freedom and an ambition for the future is not just a lofty ideal – it's a reality for so many who have successfully completed their Aftercare service. Addressing the illness of addiction is a matter of life or death—the statistics are that stark. When I hear our clients declare just what SharingPoint has meant to them on their road to recovery, I am humbled and moved to action to assist SharingPoint to achieve it's longterm growth strategy."

Frequently Asked Questions about SharingPoint

What exactly does SharingPoint offer?
Our primary service offering is our weekly facilitated group sessions. We also offer additional development and support services as required subject to individual client needs.
These sessions are typically between two and two and a half hours long and are made of up a mix of recovering addicts and those affected by addiction. We have found, and previous/current clients would support our view, that groups with a mix of recovering addicts and those affected by the addiction work very well together.

Our goal is to provide a safe place where we can assist clients to explore their personal issues and deal with the past so that they are free to move forward and lead productive and healthy lives.

Does SharingPoint follow a 12 step program?
Not directly however we fully subscribe to the value of the 12 step programme as utilised in Fellowships such as AA/NA/GA.

What is the difference between SharingPoint and a 12 step programme?
Our groups are facilitated by people experienced in addiction through their own recoveries, who undertake ongoing training and personal development and complete a third level qualification in addiction studies.

Our groups are not open to people to walk in/walk out on a weekly basis. All of our clients are assessed prior to joining us so we can determine if our service offering is right for them and to also to assess their readiness for group.

What does SharingPoint require of clients entering your recovery groups?

Those Recovering From Addiction
Acceptance of addiction demonstrated by either attendance of in house treatment, commitment to fellowship and/or other angible efforts

To be free from all mood altering chemicals including methadone, anti depressants etc

To commit to remaining drink, drug and gambling free for duration of their time in a SharingPoint recovery group regardless of their addiction type

To adhere to rules of the recovery group while in attendance - copy of which will be given to all clients

Those Impacted by Addiction

To commit to their own recovery and the exploration of their own issues and not be there in an attempt to 'fix' the addicted person in their lives

To exercise prudence in their use of mood altering substances and gambling for the duration of their time in a SharingPoint recovery group.

Adhere to rules of the recovery group while in attendance - copy of which will be given to all clients

What training / expertise do SharingPoint facilitators have?

All of our Facilitators work with us on a voluntary basis and all have experience of addition in different ways. They are all working through their own recoveries and they are required to

• Complete a recognised qualification in addiction within 3 years of starting their facilitation.
• Attend monthly supervision sessions with an accredited IAAAC Counsellor.
• Attend fortnightly personal development sessions – the format of which need to be agreed with the SharingPoint CEO.
• Attend quarterly training seminars as organised by SharingPoint

How do I go about joining SharingPoint?
Contact Padraig Langan, CEO SharingPoint, by telephone at (086) 8353706 or e-mail at plangan@sharingpoint.ie

What does SharingPoint cost?
SharingPoint is a charitable, not for profit, organisation and ensuring the service is accessible to as many people as possible is important to us. We ask clients for a nominal contribution of 20 per week however if a client can't afford 20 we are happy to review the contribution.

Where does this money go?
The client contributions go directly to SharingPoint to contribute toward the annual operating costs. The costs of operating the groups far exceeds clients' contributions when costs such as rent, insurance, specialist support for clients, accountancy fees, supervision fees, Facilitator training and development etc.

Are SharingPoint connected to any religious organisation?
No

Are SharingPoint connected to any other treatment centre?
No. However we hope in the near future to develop strong relationships with a range of different service providers to enable us to better service our clients.

How many people do SharingPoint have in groups?
Our group sizes vary but our aim would be to maintain our client numbers to a max of 8 per group.

Are the SharingPoint groups solely for addicts?
No – all our groups are a mix of recovering addicts and people who are not addicts but have been directly impacted by the addiction of a significant person in their lives e.g. partner, parent, child etc.

Are there males and females in SharingPoint groups?
Yes we typically have an even mix between male and female clients.

What if I knew someone in group?
Our priority is always to existing clients in group i.e. if in the exceptional circumstance that a newcomer is known to an existing client then it will be reviewed between the Facilitator and the client and if deemed appropriate the new client may be transferred to an alternative group.

Can couples join?
Yes some couples prefer to attend the same group while others prefer to attend separate groups. The decision on which approach is to be taken will be agreed with the Assessor prior to joining group.

What clean time if any is required?
We have had clients joining group with clean times ranging from 3 weeks to 11 years. Each person is assessed on an individual basis.

Is there any age requirement?
Yes – our clients must be at least 18 years old.

How long do people stay in group?
It can vary depending on each client's particular needs but typically averages at around 3 years.

Our contact details are as follows

Website www.sharingpoint.ie

E-mail info@sharingpoint.ie

Padraig Langan - CEO
Phone 01 2814784
Mobile 086 8353706
e-mail plangan@sharingpoint.ie

Charity No.CHY15156

Registered Address
C/O Meade Casey Accountants
15 Main Street
Raheny
Dublin 5

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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To date our primary sources of funding have been private donations and nominal client donations. To enable SharingPoint to develop and grow, we are therefore asking for your generous support, either by way of an online payment or by bank standing order.

Payments can be made on a monthly, quarterly or annual basis. If you are a PAYE taxpayer and donate €21 per month (€250 per year) or greater, SharingPoint may be able to reclaim the tax you have paid on your donation at no additional cost to you. Please indicate your approval on the Standing Order form and we will issue you with the relevant forms.

All contributions will be treated confidentially. We genuinely appreciate your support. To make a payment online, please click here to go to mycharity.ie, and complete the panel on the right hand side of the new page.

 

 

 

Please click here to download a Standing Order Form